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(No Model.) 2 Shets-Sheet 2. E. CHACE.

GAME APPARATUS.

Z T 5 1m 1 Patented Aug. 6, 1895.

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U ITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD OHAOE, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALFTO ANDREW J. SANFORD AND GEORGE W. SANFORD, JR., OF

SAME PLACE.

GAME APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 544,208, dated August6, 1895.

Application filed January 31, 1895. Serial No. 536,838. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDWARD OHAcE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Washington city,District of Columbia, have invented new anduseful Improvements in Game Apparatus, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to mechanical ballgames; audit consists in certainnovel fearo tures and combinations in a game apparatus especiallydesigned for the playing of a miniature game of base-ball in a mannerthat will substantially accord with the ordinary rules of the fieldgame.

1n the annexed drawings, illustrating the invention, Figure l is aperspective of a game apparatus constructed according to my invention.Fig. 2 is an under plan view of the gameboard shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 isa sectional detail View of one form of mechanical automatically-actuatedbatter and the portion of the board to which it is attached. Fig. 4 is avertical section of a portion of a gameboard provided with aself-setting and auto- 2 5 matically-actuated batter. Fig. 5 is aperspective of a base-ball game-board illustrating modified devices forcontrolling and releasing the balls, marbles, or rolling objects thatare to represent the batting team or side. Fig. 6 is a plan of the underside of the gameboard shown in Fig. 5. Fig. 7is a detail view of aportion of a lever mechanism for controlling a movable guard device toretain or release one of the balls or marbles comprised 5 in thebatting-team.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates a rectangular framesupporting a game-board 2, arranged to represent the infield or diamondof a base-ball ground.

In the preferred form of construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2 a series oftilting troughs or ways 3, 4, 5, and 6 are pivotally attached to theouter sides of the game-board frame 1 in such manner that when at resteach trough 5 will normally incline rearward or from a farther orfollowing base to the one that immediately precedes it. .Thus thetilting trough 3 is normally inclined from the point F.13., designatingthe first base, to the point H. 13., which may designate the home basein the miniature and mechanical game of base- 7 ratus and may be used torepresent the batting and running team. The normally-rear wardinclination of each tilting trough serves to retain a ball, marble, orother spherical object thereon in a position of rest at the base whereit belongs until an opportunity offers for making a run.

To that end of each tilting trough or way which is lowest when thetrough is in its normally-rearward inclined position may be attached oneor more stationary stops or guards 8 projecting above the end and aportion of the outer side of the trough in such manner as to retain aball or marble 7 thereon until it is time for it to make a run, ashereinafter explained. This stop or guard 8 may be formed on each troughby attaching an an-.

gular piece of metal thereto in such manner that it will project abovethe end and a portion ofthe outer side of the trough, as shown, or thesaid guard may be integral with the trough and be formed thereon in anysuitable and convenient manner. The stop or guard 8 does not projectabove the inner side of a trough, because a passage must be afforded fora ball or marble to roll from one trough onto the next succeeding troughwhen the preceding one is properly operated, so as to cause it to betilted forward and thereby inclined in the required direction.

As before observed, the several tilting troughs or ways are normallyinclined rearward or from a farther base toward onenext preceding. Anysuitable mechanism may be provided for operating any particular troughseparately, or several troughs simultaneously, in such manner as tocause a trough or troughs to be tilted or inclined forward, and therebycause one or more balls or marbles to makea run along a portion or thewhole of the baseline or course. If only one trough is operated at atime so as to be tilted forward, the guard or guards 8 on the lower endof the next normally-rearward inclined trough will arrest the runningball or marble at the required base on the field or course. When,however, two immediately-adjacent troughs are simultaneously operated,the ball or marble running on the rearward trough cannot pass at onceonto the one next succeeding, and some means must therefore be providedto prevent it from running off the temporarily-depressed forward end ofthe trough or way along which it has just traveled and to retain it atthat point in readiness to pass at once to the required base as soon asthe next succeeding trough is allowed to resume its normally-rearwardinclination. This may be accomplished by providing a depending stop orguard 9, Fig. 1, on the inner side of a trough end,at a right angle toits angular guard 8, to occupy a working position immediately across thetemporarily-depressed forward end of the preceding trough.

For the purpose of operating the tilting troughs or runways 3, i, 5, and6 I prefer to provide a series of pivotally-supported fingerkeys 3, 4:,and (5, Figs. 1 and 2,-of varying lengths and arranged to project fromone side of the game-board frame in such proximity to each other thatthey can be conveniently manipulated either separately orsimultaneously, as may be required. These fingerkeys may project throughslots 10 formed in one side of the frame 1 at convenient points belowthe highest portion of one of the normally-rearward inclined tiltingtroughs.

Beneath the game-board is a rod or shaft 11, Fig. 2, on which theseveral keys are fulcrumed. The key 3 is directly connected by shortlinks 12, Fig. 1, to the under side of the normally-highest end portionof the trough 3, so that by depressing the key the trough will be tiltedforward and permit a ball or marble to roll thereon from the home baseto the first base, at which point, if only the trough 3 has beenoperated, the ball or marble will roll at once onto and remain on thelower end of the normally-rearward inclined trough 4 until that troughis tilted forward by depressing its finger-key. The key 4: of thetilting trough 4 is arranged to bear upward at its inner end upon a rodor lever 13, Fig. 2, extended at right angles to the key and having oneend pivoted or hinged at 1t to one side of the frame and its other endpassed through a slot in the opposite side of the frame and connected tothe trough 4 at a snitablepoint. The finger-key 5 has a lever-extension16 that is carried across the under side of the game-board and through aslot 17, Fig. 2, in one side of the frame, to connect with thetiltingtrough 5 at a proper point for effecting its required operation.At its inner end the finger-key 6 bears on or may connect with a rod orlever 18, Fig. 2, one end of which is hinged or pivotally connected at19 to one side of the frame and the other end is passed through a slot20 in the opposite side of the frame and connected to the tilting trough6 at an appropriate point. Each tilting trough 3, 4, 5, and (i has afulcrum 21 arranged nearer one end than the other, and the severalfinger-keys are each connected with a trough at such point with relationto the trough-fulcrum as will best provide for the required operation ofthe troughs either separately or two or more at a time.

On the top of the game-board, preferably adjacent to the home base, ishinged or pivotally supported a vertically-swingingbatter 22, whichconsists of a bar that is normally held in an erect position. Thisbatter is so arranged thatuponreceivingtheimpact ofaball or marble shotor projected against its front face or side it will immediately bereleased from its erect position and caused to react on the ball ormarble in such manner as to quickly deliver a blow that will throw thesaid ball or marble outward from the game-board and onto the floor ortable, unless it can be caught on the fly by the player who projected itagainst the batter.

In Figs. 1, 3, and 5 I have shown the mechanical batter 22 as connectedto the top of the game-board by means of a hinge 23 so arranged as topermit the batter to swing sharply forward when released. This hingedbatter has secured to its lower end a bent arm 24:,extcnded downwardthrough a slot 25 in the game-board and connected to one end of apreferably spirally-coiled spring 26, the other end of which is fastenedtothe under side of the game-board.

In slots 27 and 28 of the game-board is arranged a movable segmentalrack 29, that is adapted to interlock with and hold the batter 22 in anerect or set position. The rear end portion of the segmental rack 29 ispivoted in or immediately below the slot 27, and the forward end of therack works in the slot 28, through which it may be raised and lowered.In the top of the rack 29 is anotch 30, adapted to engage and becomelocked with a pin 31, Fig. 13, mounted in a slot 32, with which thebatter 22 is provided and through which the segmental rack 29 isextended. (hen the batter 22 is set in an erect position and the rack 29raised for its notch 30 to engage the pin 31, the tension to which thespring 26 is thus subjected will cause it to hold the batter and itslocking-rack in firm engagement. The batter 22 will remain set or erectuntil it receives a slight rearward impulse, as by the impact of a ballor marble thrown, shot, or otherwise projected against its forward face,which will be sufficient to disengage the pin 31 from the notch 30 andallow the forward end portion of the segmental rack to drop at the sameinstant that the batter will be swung sharply forward by the contractionof its spring.

In this miniature game of base-ball there may be two or more players andthe rules of the game may correspond as nearly as possible with theusage of the field game. One player or one side will take charge of theballs or marbles that are to represent the movements of the batting andrunning team. Another player or side will take charge of the ball ormarble that is to be batted. If desired the balls or marbles may havedistinguishing colors or numbers, .though this is not essential. At thebeginning of the game the batter 22 will be set in its erect positionand one of the balls or marbles of the batting and running team will beplaced in the lower or home-base end of the tilting trough 3, all thesaid troughs being at rest in normallyrearward inclined positions. Theplayer who has the ball or marble to be batted, and who may representthe pitcher, will toss or shoot the ball or marble in proper directionto strike on the face of the mechanical batter 22, and this, when hit,will yield slightly to base and onto the depressed end of the trough- 4at that point; but in the meantime if the pitcher, or one of his side,can catch the batted ball or pick it up and place it on first basebefore the running ballor marble on the trough or way 3 gets to thatbase the latter ball or marble will be put out. On resetting themechanical batter 22 and repeating its operation by impact of a ballthereon the keys 3 and 4 may be depressed, either separately orsimultaneously, to cause the running of a ball or marble from home baseto first base and from first base to second base, and so on, if there istime for those runs before the batted ball can be caught and carried tothe destined base of one of the running balls or marbles. So, also, thekeys 5 and 6'" may be depressed, either separately or simultaneously, tocause the rolling of balls or marbles farther along the course. In thismanner the play may be continued by repeated resetting of the mechanicalbatter and proceed only part way toward the desired' base and.then bequickly returned to the base just passed, if the exigencies of the gameshould require such movements in order to prevent a ball or marble, frombeing put out while on a run. When three of the marbles in the runningteam have been: put out, the

other side, or the other one of two opposing players, may take charge ofthe team and the game may proceed in accordance with any suitable rulesapproximating those followed thereby effect its automatic resettingafter the batting of a ball. Below the slot 35 is mounted a rotary shaftor spindle 37, having a series of radial arms 38, adapted to project inturn through the slot 35 a sufficient distance to be caused to strikeagainst the weighted lower end of the batter in such manner as 'to forceit backward and thereby throw the upper end of the batter forciblyforward in batting the ball. A coiled spring 39, connected with theshaft or spindle 37, may furnish the motive power for rotating saidshaft. A stop-lever 40, Fig. 4, is fulcrumed at its lower end andcarries a stop-lug or shoulder 41 adapted to engage overone of thehorizontally-extended arms 38, and thereby arrest the rotation of theshaft to which the arms 38 are attached. The upper end of the stop-lever'40 is connected with the lower end of the batter 22 by a rod 42, and alight spring 43 is-arranged adjacent to said lever in such position asto aid in restoring engagement of the stop 41 with one of the arms 38and arrest the oscillation of the batter after it has rebounded againstthe impact of a ball.

Instead of havingv the base-line or course composed of a series oftilting troughs or ways, I may provide runways .or troughs 44, Fig. 5,that communicate with each other and are permanently inclined in properdirection and in a spiral manner to cause a ball or marble to roll fromone base to another. As a means for controlling the release of balls ormarbles placed at the higher end of each permanentlyinclined trough orway 44, I provide in each trough or runway, near its upper end, an adjustable guard device that may conveniently take the form of avertically-movable pin or series of pins 45, respectively operated fromone of the finger-keys 3, 4 5, or 6 hereinbefore described. These keysmay be fulcrumed on a rod or bar 11*, Fig. 6, substantially as before.The key 3 will carry near its outer end the guard or vertically-movablepin 45 for retaining and releasing a ball or marble placed on the higherend portion of the spirally-inclined runway 44 adjacent to home base.The key 4 when depressed will bear down on a lever 46, Fig. 6, havingone end fulcrumed at 47 and its other end carrying the guard or pin forcontrolling release of the ball or marble at first base. The key 5 maybe arranged to actuate a lever 48 ful-. crumed at 49 intermediate itsends and connected at one end with the guard or pin for retaining andreleasing the ball or marble at second base. In like manner the key 6will control a lever 50, Figs. 6 and 7, fulcrumed at 51 and carrying theguard or pin for arresting and releasing a ball or marble at third base.

It will be readily understood that the several finger-keys may bedepressed, either separately or any two or more simultaneously,according to the requirements of the game at different stages of itsprogress, as hereinbefore explained. At the angles or turning-points ofthe spirally-inclined runway 44 there may be placed suitable fixedguards 52 to prevent the rolling balls or marbles from leaving thecourse or base-line.

The same kind of ball-game can be played with both forms ofgame-board'illustrated, which are alike in all essential particulars,and any appropriate rules maybe adopted for governing the manner ofconducting agame.

hat I claim as my invention is- 1. A game apparatus comprising a boardor surface representing the infield of a baseball ground, a series ofinclined ways constituting a base line or course for rolling objects, anormally erect and vertically swinging batter mounted on the said boardadjacent to home base, and means forlocking the batter in an erectposition until released by the impact of a ball thereon, substantiallyas described.

2. A game apparatus comprising a board having thereon positionsrepresenting the bases of a base-ball ground, a mechanical andautomatically actuated batter pivotally supported on the upper side ofthe board, mechanism for holding the batter in a normally erect positionuntil released by the impactof a ball or other object, spring mechanismfor causing the batter to rebound forcibly and thereby drive the ball,and tilting ways constituting a base-line or course from base to baseand over which rolling objects may be caused to pass either forward orback between the bases, substantially as described.

3. A game apparatus comprising a board representing the infield ofabase-ball ground, an automatically actuated and rebounding battersupported on the said board in posit-ion to receive and respond to theimpact of a ball,.-

marble or other suitable object, tilting ways constituting a base lineor course over which rolling objects may be caused to pass eitherforward or back between the several bases of the infield, and mechanismfor operating said tilting ways to cause them to incline either forwardor backward, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

EDWARD CHACE.

\Vitnesses:

J. FRED. KELLEY, T. A. GREEN.

